Recently we celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd. The first Earth Day occurred back in 1970 and inspired millions of Americans to take to the streets and demand that our government protect the planet from pollution. Earth Day asks us to “love our planet, protect our future”. To reduce, reuse and recycle. It says that “together we can make every day an earth day”.
I was moved by Pope Francis’ message at the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation back on September 1, 2020. Pope Francis advocates several aspects of care of creation that we need to consider.
Pope Francis wrote an encyclical entitled “Laudato Si” (Praise be to You) on the global crisis and the care of our earth. Some people have received this encyclical with open hands, while other people have denied the global crisis. I am a person who embraces Pope Francis’ message on his concern and care for the earth. Pope Francis tells us that “We exist in relationships: with God the Creator, with our brothers and sisters as members of a common family, and with all of God’s creatures within our common home.” (Message of Sept. 1, 2020)
Laudato Si (70) tells us that we need to constantly remember that everything is inter-connected. That our way of life is pushing the planet beyond its limit. I advocate what he suggests that “…we must examine our habits of energy usage, consumption, transportation and diet” (September 1, 2020). The Holy Father speaks of a climate emergency and we are running out of time. We need to limit the rise of the global average temperature. Not to do this would be catastrophic, especially for the poor around the world.
Laudato Si is inspiring many initiatives at global and local levels. Recently I learned that there are 19 Catholic dioceses who sponsor training programs for people to enter into the suggestions of the encyclical.
Let us keep up our consciousness and our actions on behalf of fighting climate change. Our very existence and that of our children depend on it.
If you have not read Laudato Si, I encourage you to read it. I must say it is difficult to read because of its scientific terms but it is our wake-up call to our global climate crisis.
